Underground tunnel along border a serious National security threat : COCOMI
'Cocktail of geo-politics and narco-terrorism'
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 25 2025: The underground tunnel, discovered recently along Indo-Myanmar border, poses a grave a threat to the National security of India, particularly the already vulnerable North East region and its indigenous population, said Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) .

The underground tunnel located along Myanmar-Mizoram border, allegedly used for smuggling drugs into Indian territories, is reportedly capable of accommodating heavy vehicles.

This cannot be dismissed as merely the work of ordinary drug smugglers.

The scale and sophistication of the operation point to possible involvement of powerful actors, including influential entities in Mizoram and Myanmar's Chin State, said COCOMI in a statement issued to the media today.

"We are particularly concerned about the alleged complicity of certain groups in Mizoram, who are reportedly colluding with the United States Chin Groups to create a Christian State (Zo-land) spanning territories in India, Bangladesh, and Myanmar.

This raises serious questions about the intent and activities of those in positions of power in the region," it said.

The long-standing apathy displayed by successive Indian Governments toward such serious threats has emboldened perpetrators and jeopardized the security of the NE region.

This tacit complicity cannot be ignored any longer, it added.

The Government of India must declare a state of "Narco-Terrorist Emergency" in the North-East region and undertake aggressive and transparent actions to address the escalating narco-terrorism activities, COCOMI demanded.

The Government of India must prioritize combating narco-terrorism, which is undermining political stability and exacerbating the ongoing crisis in Manipur, it said.

"The increase in drug and arms smuggling in conflict zones is a predictable consequence of a weak and unresponsive security framework.

We call upon the Government to urgently develop and implement a transparent and robust security policy to address this crisis and prevent further destabilization," COCOMI said.

The committee noted that an American journal "Foreign Policy" has recently included the Manipur crisis in its list of the world's top 10 most alarming conflicts.

"This recognition underscores the international dimensions of the issue and the potential for it to escalate into a geopolitical conflict extending beyond National borders.

The Government's failure to act decisively risks turning Manipur into a flashpoint for regional instability, with far-reaching implications," COCOMI stressed, cautioning that continued neglect of the Manipur crisis and its associated narco-terrorism activities will have serious consequences.

If the Government fails to address the situation with urgency and clarity, it will face mounting criticism from the international community.

Furthermore, the indigenous people of Manipur will hold the Government fully accountable for any further deterioration of the situation, it said.

The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity then laid down a series of demands---
1) A transparent and time-bound security and resolution policy from both the Central and State Governments to address the Manipur crisis comprehensively
2) A thorough investigation into the alleged complicity of influential individuals and entities in Manipur, Mizoram and Chin State in narco-terrorism activities
3) Immediate measures to dismantle the underground tunnel and other infrastructure supporting drug smuggling and illegal arms trafficking
4) An official acknowledgment by the Government of India and State Government of the geopolitical and narco-terrorism dimensions of the Manipur crisis, with concrete actions to counter these threats

"The ongoing crisis in Manipur cannot be dismissed as a mere ethnic conflict as the Union Home Minister Amit Shah and his team members like Kiren Rijiju have stated in public forums.

It is a complex issue intertwined with narco-terrorism and broader geopolitical dynamics," COCOMI said.

The Government of India must act decisively and transparently before the situation spirals out of control.

Failure to do so will not only destabilize the region but also tarnish India's reputation on the global stage, asserted COCOMI .

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